The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on HuntingEdward, of Norwich
History
The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on Hunting
Edward, of Norwich
Hunting -- Early works to 1800
_Hare._ According to the Forest Laws (Man., 176) the season commenced
Michaelmas (Sept. 29) and ended at Midsummer (June 24); Dryden in his
notes in Twici states that it commenced at Michaelmas and ended at
Candlemas (Feb. 2), while the "Boke of St. Albans" gives the same date
as the first-named in Manwood. According to the "Master of Game" the
hare seems to have enjoyed no close season, as G. de F.'s assertion
that the hunting of the hare "lasteth all the year" is also translated
without comment (p. 14): _Et le peut chassier toute l'année, en
quelque temps que ce soit quar touzjours sa sayson dure_ (G de F., p.
204).
In Twety and Gyfford we also find that "The hare is alway in season to
be chasyd."
In the sixteenth century in France the hare-hunting season was from
the middle of September till the middle of April (Du Fouilloux, p. 51;
De Noir., ii. p. 476). In England the same season seems to have been
observed (Blome, p. 91).
_Wild boar._ According to the Forest Laws (Manwood and Twici), the
boar was hunted from Christmas Day to Candlemas (Feb. 2), but we have
evidence that boar-hunting usually began earlier. The boar was in his
prime condition when acorns, beechmast, and chestnuts were plentiful,
and was considered in season from Michaelmas to St. Martin's Day (Roy
Modus, xxxi.), and by some even from Holyrood Day (Bornam, p. 100;
Part, de Blois, 525).
The huntsmen of King John of England were sent to hunt in the forest
of Cnappe in order to take two or three boars a day in November. King
John's letter giving instructions on this point to one Rowland Bloet
is dated 8th November 1215 (Jesse, ii. 32).
_Wolf._ According to the Forest Laws, in the book already quoted, the
season during which the wolf was hunted began at Christmas and ended
at the Annunciation (March 25), but considering the destruction
wrought by this beast it is far more likely that it was hunted
throughout the year.
_Fox._ According to the Forest Laws the season opened on Christmas Day
and ended on March 25, but nevertheless the fox was hunted early in
the autumn, for we have it on Twety and Gyfford's authority that "the
sesoun of the fox begynneth at the natyvite of owre Lady, and durryth
til the Annunciacion" (Sept. 8 to March 25).
The "Boke of St. Albans" gives the season of the fox and wolf from the
Nativity to the Annunciation of Our Lady and that of the boar from the
Nativity to the Purification of Our Lady. Manwood and other accepted
authorities quote the above as alluding to the Nativity of Christ,
whereas the Nativity of Our Lady, Sept. 8, was intended, thereby
creating some confusion.
According to the Wardrobe Accounts of Edward I. the foxhunting season
began on 1st September (Ward. Acc. Ed. I. 1299-1300).
No doubt one of the reasons why the fox was not hunted earlier in the
year was on account of the fur, which was of course of less use or
value if obtained in summer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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